The Charlotte region is experiencing a wave of major data center investments, positioning it as a fast-growing tech and infrastructure hub.
Amazon is leading the charge with a $10 billion, 800-acre data center campus in Richmond County, announced in June. Located about 80 miles from Charlotte, the facility will support Amazon Web Services’ cloud and AI operations while creating at least 500 jobs.
The project adds to Charlotte’s growing digital infrastructure footprint. Cielo Digital Infrastructure is building a $2.1 billion, four-building data center campus in Gaffney, S.C., just an hour west of the city. Meanwhile, Apple is expanding its existing data center north of Charlotte as part of a $500 billion nationwide investment focused on AI and cloud computing.
Closer to home, the PowerHouse Charlotte project in University City will bring four additional data center buildings in two phases. Duke Energy and the Joules Accelerator are also backing tech startups focused on energy management and cooling innovation to support this rapid growth.
Industry leaders say Charlotte’s proximity to these sites, coupled with rising demand for cloud services, is accelerating local business adoption of digital tools. However, experts warn the surge is straining regional power grids, prompting calls for smarter infrastructure and energy solutions.
With so many multiple billion-dollar projects underway, Charlotte is quickly becoming a key data corridor in the southeast.
